Arabs and Persians refer to people belonging to a specific culture and ethnicity. There are instances when Arabs and Persians are mistakenly classified as the same community of populations.
However, it is true that Arabs and Persians stand differentiated on grounds of their location, language, ethnic history, tradition, and several other factors.
Arabs vs Persians
The difference between Arabs and Persians is that Arabs are the people who inhabit the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. On the other hand, Persians are the people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West. Another significant difference between the Arabs and Persians is the language spoken by the two communities. While the Arabs speak Arabic and all varieties of Arabic, Persians speak Iranian language and dialects.
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Arabs refer to the community of people who live in the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. The language spoken by Arabs is Arabic and its various varieties.
The basis of classification for Arabs is their language, culture, and genealogy. In addition, the people of Arab origin are united by a shared culture and history.
Persians refer to a community who are a part of the people usually termed as “ The Iranian peoples.” The name ‘ Persian ’ comes from the word Persis which is located in the Northern part of the Persian Gulf.
They inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West. Persians speak Iranian language and dialects.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Arabs | Persians |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Arabs are the people who inhabit the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. | Persians are the people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West. |
| Language | The language spoken by Arabs is Arabic and its various varieties. | Persians speak Iranian language and dialects. |
| History of origin | The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula. | Persians are a part of the people usually termed as The Iranian peoples who belong to the Indo European family. |
| Religion | Most Arabs practice the Sunni branch of Islam. | Most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam. |
| Important Ceremony | The most important holiday for Arabs is Eid al-Fitr. | The most important holiday for Persians is Narooz i.e. the Persian New Year. |
What are Arabs?
Arabs refer to the population that lives in the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. The Arab community inhabits countries like Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Algeria, Bahrain, and more.
The basis of classification for Arabs is their language, culture, and genealogy. In addition, the people of Arab origin are united by a shared culture and history. The dominant language of Arabs is the Arabic language and its various varieties.
The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula.
Most Arabs follow the Sunni branch of Islam. In fact, the Arabs don’t consider Iranians as true muslims owing to the stark difference in the rituals and ceremonies practiced by them as followers of the Shia branch of Islam.
The most important ceremonial holiday in the Arab World is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan i.e. the holy month in which muslims fast. The Hijra calendar used by Arabs begins from the Islamic New Year in 622 CE.
In addition, it marks the day when prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina as they were fighting native pagans. Conclusively, Arabs have a rich and varied history which can be traced to its ancestors.
What are Persians?
Persians refer to the community of people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West.
The name ‘ Persian ’ comes from the word Persis which is located in the Northern part of the Persian Gulf. They are a part of the people usually termed as The Iranian peoples who are a part of the Indo European family. Persians speak the Iranian language and dialects.
Most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam. They adhere to Twelve Chiism, which refers to the belief that twelve imams descended from Ali. Owing to their background and zoroastrian past, Persians developed a culture distinct from that of the Arabs.
The most important ceremonial holiday for Persians is Narooz i.e. the Persian New Year. Yalda night is another Persian ancient festival that marks the longest light of the year and is enthusiastically celebrated by the Iranians.
The calendar used by Persians is based on the calendars used by their ancestors in the Pre-Islamic period. In a nutshell, Persians have emerged as an independent community with traditions and ceremonies specific to its cultural practices.
Main Differences Between Arabs and Persians
- Arabs are the people who inhabit the Arab World i.e. North Africa and Western Asia. On the other hand, Persians are the people who inhabit the Iranian Cultural Continent, stretching from the Iranian Plateau to the Indus River of Pakistan in the east to Turkey in the West.
- Arabs speak Arabic and all varieties of Arabic, whereas Persians speak Iranian language and dialects.
- The ancestry of Arabs can be traced back to the original inhabitants of the Arabian tribe who lived in the Syrian Desert and Arabian Peninsula. Persians, however, are a part of the people usually termed as The Iranian peoples who belong to the Indo European family.
- While most Arabs practice the Sunni branch of Islam, most Persians practice the Shia branch of Islam.
- The most important ceremonial holiday for Arabs is Eid al-Fitr. In contrast, the most important holiday for Persians is Narooz i.e. the Persian New Year.
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
